The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-05-11

the point where Riney creek enters
the county (which Is at It's north
western extremity II washes the en-
tire western border of this county,
which with It's meanderings IS dis
lance Of sixty miles, and we defy
any State in the Union to show larg
er bodies and better land than Is
situated on these two streams-llll-
nois Bayou and Piney creek, and
just this district of land comprised
within the boundary OF these Two
creeks is capable Of sus
tanning and comfortably supporting
ten thousand human beings, and
only needs the SNAP and s'pluck"
of enterpnsing men to develop IT.
We now call attention to another
section OF the county which is stu
ated between the town Of Dover and
the town of Atkins. In this scope
Of country are large tracts OF fine
oak and hickory timber, and Is rath
er broken or interspersed by hills.
But there are large valleys of land
which is very fertile and we have no
doubt that this section o. the county
lying between Dover and Atkins will
be one Of the finest portions of this
or any other county by reason OF It's
fine mineral resources which are yet
undeveloped. That there is lead and
coal, can be stated positively by the
writer, but as yet it cannot be stated
as to the amount and quality, as it is
undeveloped. In this district of the
county there is large scope of val
| ley land which is denominated
"Gum Log Valley which cannot be
excelled for It's fertility, and it ex-
tends from within five miles of Do
yer to where s'Gum Log" creek emp
ties into the PolntRemove,a distance
of about thirty miles. In this val
ley is prosperous and happy com
munity. The valley is dotted with
churches and school houses all the
denominations being represented in
most of the neighborhoods. The
timber upon this land is walnut,
blackberry, hickory, and the finest
quality of every description Of oaks.
The valley runs parallel with the
Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad,
lying about six miles from said rail
road. There could be paying invest
ments made along this valley, not
only in farming lands hnt in timber,
which is close enough to the road to
be shipped. All along this valley
are springs Of the purest water, and
water anywhere IN the county can
be obtained in wells from twenty to
thirty feet deep.
We now come to describe the tract
of land between the town Of Atkins
and the line of Conway county, and
what we denominate hill lands in
contradistinetion to bottom lands on
the creeks in this district is equal to
what is known as the "barrens land"
in Kentucky, and only needs devel-
opment to make 1t blossom as the
rose. In this section and
about the town of Atkins, has been
discovered coal in paying quantities.
We now come to describe the coun-
ty or that portion of it which is sit
uated between the Arkansas river
and the towns of Rnssellyiile and
Atkins, which comprises one of the
best portions Of the county of hill
land. This section of county that has
been settled is mostly by North and
South Carollnians, who are pros
porous and generous people. They
have small farms, make their own
meat, corn, hay, potatoes, wheat and
barley at home, and do not have their
smoke houses either In Memphis or
St. Louis. In this district is also
produced large quantities of cotton.
There is in this neighborhood which
lis called North Carolina, no crop
mortgages are given, and all OF those
who own land have competency
and great many of them have mon
ey out at interest. In this district
the timber is mostly post oak, red
oak and white oak. Good invest
ments could also be made IN this dis
triet, and it has lately been discov-
cred that in this section near what
is called Parker's mill, that there are
large deposits of iron, copper and
lead, which at an early day will be
developed. This district is also i'm
bedded with fine coal which has been
successfully mined, and there are
now two coal mines being sue.
cessfully operated, situated about 3
miles of the railroad and from the
town of RussellvIlle.
We now come to describe the tract
of land between the towns of Rus.
sellville and London in the southern
portion OF the county, which includes
part of the Illinois bayou hereto
fore spoken of. In this district out
side of The river bottom there are
some fine farms. The timber for the
most part after passing Dwight on
the Illinois Bayou, is pine which is
being successfully worked by lum-
bermen, and thousands and thous
ands of feet of lumber are beiugship
ped from these pineries from the
town Of Russellville and Mil. creek
station on the railroad, to Kansas
and other points. This section Of
country is only the outskirts OF the
vast pinery that rs situated north
and east of these mills.
We now come to describe portion